Orange Morocco has opened the first Orange Digital Center in Morocco, in Rabat, to address the development of Morocco’s digital ecosystem, with the primary goal of making digital more accessible.
Orange Digital Center (ODC) is an ecosystem that brings together a variety of activities in one place, ranging from digital technology training for young people to propelling creative start-ups through project leadership assistance and financing. These programs are all free and accessible to the public. They range from youth training to digital literacy (90 percent of these trainings are practical trainings).
In the presence of Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills, Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, and other officials, the new space was officially inaugurated by Hendrik Kasteel, CEO of Orange Morocco, and Alioune Ndiaye, CEO of Orange Middle East & Africa.
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The ODC brings together the Orange Group’s four strategic programs, including a code school, a Fablab digital manufacturing workshop in partnership with the Orange Foundation, and an Orange fab startup accelerator, which is funded by Orange Ventures, the Orange Group’s investment fund.
The Orange Digital Centers, which operate as a network, allow for the exchange of experiences and expertise from one country to the next and provide a simple and inclusive approach to improving young people’s employability, encouraging innovative entrepreneurship, and promoting the local digital fabric.
Hendrik Kasteel, CEO of Orange Morocco, stated that “Thousands of young Moroccan talents will be welcomed into the Orange Digital Center, where they will be able to develop their skills, ideas, and digital start-ups. This is just the beginning for this program, which will have a significant impact on society as a whole, with several “ODC Clubs” set to open across the Kingdom in the near future, commencing at Hassan II University in Casablanca.”
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This effort is more broadly aligned with the Orange Group’s Engage 2025 strategy plan, which calls for the deployment of an ODC in each of the company’s operating nations by 2025. Tunisia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Madagascar, Morocco, Mali, and Egypt have already opened 10 Orange Digital Centers in the region. By the end of the year, there will be more inaugurations.
“ODC is a third option for young people who want to improve their digital skills. The first of our three aims in this project is to train 20,000 young people over the next three years. It’s also about identifying mature start-ups and introducing them to the global market. Finally, we wish to assist in the reduction of youth unemployment. Digital abilities are valued far more highly than degrees today than they have ever been,” HRD of Orange Morocco, Zakia Hajjaji, said.
Nadia Mrani, Orange Morocco’s CSR Manager, believes that the ODC is situated between the educational system and the labor market.
“This project aims to provide young people with practical knowledge and training in various technical solutions. We also connect young interns with employers to help them find internships. Quality support is provided to project leaders, allowing them to breathe new life into their startups.”
Initially based in Rabat, ODC aspires to expand its presence throughout the Kingdom, initially through “ODC Clubs” established within university institutions and large partner schools, completing the system of providing as many people as possible with access to new technologies and assisting them in making full use of them.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
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